What to do when you feel stuck in a job

Ah, work. We have all manner of stuck moments around what we do for a living. And that’s not such a bad thing — because we’re identifying ways we can make our jobs and companies better.

Except if the job itself is what’s keeping you stuck.

When the hours spent at work consistently clock in anywhere from low-level misery to high-grade unhappiness, your most frequent debate is whether to quit or tough it out.

The very liberating answer is that it’s up to you.

More than anyone, you know what’s most important to you now and in the future, what you can and cannot tolerate, whether you can turn it around or need to head for the hills. But it does take honest reflection on your situation and your priorities to gain clarity.

1.What a job actually is. A job is an agreement between you and your employer. In exchange for your competent services, the employer agrees to pay you and to provide a physically safe work environment. All the other stuff — company mission, culture, mentorship, advancement, pay raises, policies, process — are your choice to accept or decline. In other words, you are not a victim of how a company operates unless you choose to be. You can adapt, you can work for positive change, or you can step away.

2. No job is perfect. Ever. Even your friends who travel around the world, make a zillion dollars, or party in the name of work have a complaint or two. We all have to decide if what we get from the job outweighs what we grumble about. And 10 grumbles to one piece of praise do not automatically mean it’s quitting time. If you find your work meaningful (the top priority for Americans) but you harp on the inefficiencies, it’s time to examine how much you’ve done — and how much more you can do — to lessen the grumbles. Likewise, if your favorite part of your job is the paycheck.

3.Comfort has a way of sidetracking you. It’s actually a strategy of some employers to offer such outstanding benefits that you’re unwilling to give up the job, even if it doesn’t really suit you. So you stay for the pay or the vacation time or the company softball team. Then, without realizing it, your passion and ambition dwindle, along with your confidence to pursue work elsewhere.

Okay, now it’s time to start assessing whether you should stay or go. Try not to let emotions color your responses on the checklist. And once you have a final answer (the checklist is a tool, not an oracle), explore the resources below to help you with next steps — even if you’re petrified. Once you start seeing the possibilities, fear is often replaced with enthusiasm. Or, if you’re champing at the bit to hand in your resignation, remember that it’s usually better to leave for something rather than leave to get away from something.

Prepare for something better
“Making a Change,” a digital course from Unstuck, helps you negotiate change and the obstacles that are bound to come up. Learn more>